Alaska Hiking and Alaska Hiking Trails

Hiking in Alaska is different than it is down in the Lower 48. How?

There aren’t as many trails, and most that do exist cut through true wilderness—but they’re easy to follow.
There’s a remote possibility of seeing bears.
On less popular trails, you may encounter stream crossings, rocky sections, and overgrown brush.
You’re not limited by darkness in summer!

Experienced guides know the trails, plants, points of interest, and where to spot wildlife. Typical group size is 3-10. There are surprisingly few options for guided hiking in Alaska. Here are the good ones:

Anchorage: The Eagle River Nature Center, 40 minutes from downtown, offers guided hikes and nature programs for a small fee.
Denali: Explore Denali leads groups of 2-12 hikers on 3-4 hour hikes near the Park Entrance, featuring wildlife-spotting opportunities, walks along the Nenana River or exploring a frontier-era trail to an old hunting cabin.
Kenai Fjords, Denali, & Wrangell St. Elias: Alaska Wildland Adventures offers multi-day trips with seasoned naturalist guides, nice lodging and great food. All-inclusive packages start at about $1000 per person and represent excellent value.
Alaska Wilderness Lodges: These full-service lodges includes guided hikes, personalized tours, and great access to otherwise untouched wilderness. Not cheap, but well worth it. The best lodges for guided hiking: Kenai Backcountry Lodge, where you’ll hike through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; Kenai Riverside Lodge, which offers hikes in Chugach National Forest; Camp Denali / North Face Lodge in the heart of Denali; and Tutka Bay Lodge in Kachemak Bay State Park across from Homer. Kennicott Glacier Lodge is great for self-guided hikes.

Here are our favorite 2-4 hour hikes in Alaska destinations you’re likely to visit. (Most can be extended into longer, all-day hikes.)

Near Anchorage (Chugach State Park):

Flattop Mountain: Most climbed mountain in Alaska. 30 minutes from downtown. 1.5 mile hike on a mountain trail with an elevation gain of 1,350 feet, and expansive views at the summit. Flattop Mountain Shuttle can get you there.
Turnagain Arm Trail: Flat hiking or running trail that traverses the mountainside high above the Seward Highway 15 minutes south of Anchorage. Choose a section from 2 to 10 miles long.
Historic Iditarod/Crow Pass Trail: Most scenic hike near Anchorage. 40 minutes from downtown. Impressive rivers, waterfalls, hanging glaciers, and sheer mountain faces. Choose a distance from 2 miles roundtrip to 25 miles one-way! Call Eagle River Nature Center for info: 907-694-2108.
Also see in-town Anchorage Parks & Trails

Near Seward:

Exit Glacier Trail: Most popular. Take a short, 30-minute hike to the face of Alaska’s most accessible glacier. Or keep climbing for a 3-4 hour hike up the Harding Icefield.
Tonsina Point: Beauty along the shoreline. 3-mile roundtrip hike through forest and along the grassy shores of Resurrection Bay. Another 6 miles roundtrip to go all the way to Caines Head.
Lost Lake Trail: If you’re up for a 14-mile roundtrip hike to a gorgeous alpine lake, you can’t beat this. Sweeping views, tundra, three glaciers and a deep stone chasm.

Denali National Park:
Take the hop-on, hop-off Park Service Shuttle anywhere in the Park. A few specific locations to consider:

Savage River, Mile 14: Closest real trail inside the Park. Last point where you can drive your own vehicle. Flat trail along a boulder-lined stream.
Tonsina Point: Beauty along the shoreline. 3-mile roundtrip hike through forest and along the grassy shores of Resurrection Bay. Another 6 miles roundtrip to go all the way to Caines Head.
Lost Lake Trail: If you’re up for a 14-mile roundtrip hike to a gorgeous alpine lake, you can’t beat this. Sweeping views, tundra, three glaciers and a deep stone chasm.

Even on bluebird sunny day, we never set off without rain gear, extra clothing, gloves, and a hat. Temps can drop fast. Here’s the complete rundown for how to pack for Alaskan hiking:

Dress In Layers.
- Inside layer: Moisture-wicking fabrics against the skin, such as Capilene (also called polypropylene) or light wool.
- Insulating layer: Expedition weight long underwear or light pile.
- Outside layer: breathable yet waterproof fabric such as Gore-tex

Zip-off leg pants.
- A huge convenience. If you get hot or cold, zip the lower pant legs on or off in a snap—no need to find a place to sit down and remove your whole pants.
- Pant legs also protect your calves when walking through brush.

Change of clothes, in case your clothes get wet

Hiking boots.
- Don’t buy the classic, hard leather boots—too heavy for most day hikers, and hard to break in.
- Your best bet: lightweight boots with ankle support.
- Trail running shoes are fine if you’re used to them on uneven terrain.

Gaiters.
- These nylon coverings fit over your lower pant leg and strap around the bottom of your shoe or boot.
- Extra protection from water, scrapes and debris that can get into your boots.
- Great if it rains—ground brush and twigs can get mushy and messy fast.
- About $25 a pair.

Hiking Poles. Don’t think of them as canes—here’s how any hiker will benefit from them:
- Elevation. When heading down hills, shifting weight to the poles will protect your knees.
- Uneven terrain. Using them on side hills—sloping terrain—can protect your ankles.
- Whacking. Poles are great for helping whack brush aside.
- Water crossings. Probe the depth of a stream before you plant your foot (or whole leg) into it.
- An extra pair of feet. They offer stability so you can look up and watch scenery, rather than your feet for every step.
- Shopping for Poles. Aluminum is cheaper and heavier, but carbon might not be as durable. Shock-absorbing tips are great if you’re carrying a heavy load, but overkill for most day hikers. Look for something that can collapse and attach well to your pack. Cost: anywhere from $70 to $150.

Water. We Alaskans tend to take a bottle for water when hiking, and then just refill it in a stream or river. If you don’t want to, here are your options:
- SteriPen: UV lights kill bacteria, giardia, but don’t get rid of silt or grittiness from stream water. About $90.
- Filter Expedition. Low-tech, but your best bet for removing bacteria and bulk. $40 and up for portable models.
- Purifying tablets. Iodine or Chloride tablets are cheap and lightweight, and a great back-up plan. Downsides: They’re slow (half an hour to four hours). Iodine makes the water taste funny, too. A few dollars.

Safety plan. If you’re planning on an extended hike into the wilderness (say a day or more), think about communications before you leave.
- Don’t count on your cell phone—coverage tends to be spotty.
- Call a friend or family member before you set off. Tell them your route, amount of food, and when you expect to be back.
- Bring a Hand-held GPS ($120-200) or compass and map in case you get lost. USGS maps in Anchorage.
- A lot of Alaskans use Spot, a satellite transmitter that updates your coordinates online and lets you send for rescue. About $250.

Bear protection.
- Don’t bother with bells—your voice is just as much of a deterrent.
- Bear spray (pepper spray) has limited range, but is good to carry. Shoot downwind.
- Your best bet: Hike with a friend and keep the conversation, and moderate noise, going. Most bear attacks are on people going solo.